First Lady Pool Reports of May 9, 2022

FLOTUS 5/9 Travel Pool Report #1: FLOTUS arrival at Presidential Palace + comments on Ukraine meeting

Good morning from Slovakia's presidential palace.

FLOTUS arrived in the Great Hall at 11:28 with Slovakia's President Zuzana Caputova, and the two posed for photos.

FLOTUS then sat down at a table and took out a piece of White House stationary from her purse and copied a note into a large guest book.

Here is the text of her note:

"During my time in this beautiful country, I have seen firsthand the shared values that united Slovakia and the United States as friend, partners, and Allies. This includes our common devotion to helping those most in need. We stand with Slovakia as it stands with the people of Ukraine."

The two women then moved into the receiving room for tea.

Pool had a brief spray and asked FLOTUS two questions:

Q: What are you planning to discuss today?

FLOTUS: "We're talking about the support that the United States has for the people of Slovakia and Ukraine and how we stand together in helping the Ukrainian people."

Q: What did you tell POTUS yesterday after you visited Ukraine

FLOTUS: "I said just how much I saw the need to support the people of Ukraine and you know, you know, the horrors and the brutality that the people I had met had experienced."

Pool is now holding downstairs at the palace.

FLOTUS 5/9 Travel Pool Report #2: Motorcade rolling from palace

Pool did not see FLOTUS exit from the palace.

Motorcade started rolling to the airport at 12:08 p.m.

FLOTUS 5/9 Travel Pool Report #3: Departure from Slovakia

Motorcade arrived at the airport at 12:22 p.m.

FLOTUS boarded the plane with a wave at 12:28 p.m.

She then returned to the tarmac to take another photo with volunteers and chatted briefly off the record with the press.

We are no longer stopping at Shannon and heading directly to JBA.

We are expecting to be wheels up shortly.

From the White House:

Greeters: Martin Klus, State Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Chargé d’affaires Nicholas Namba

FLOTUS 5/9 Travel Pool Report #4: JBA arrival

Plane touched down at JBA at 4:23 p.m.

Pool loaded into press van before FLOTUS deplaned.

Motorcade rolling to the White House at 4:36 pm

FLOTUS 5/9 Travel Pool Report #5: arrival at White House

Motorcade arrived at the White House 4:57.

FLOTUS walked through the front door of the White House at 4:59.

That’s a wrap on FLOTUS trip to Eastern Europe. Thanks to my wonderful co-poolers for all their help throughout this very newsy trip.